Australian Organic Connect | Issue 1 | Autumn 2020

AUSTRALIAN BUSH FIRE SEASON 2020.

BY RHONDA VOHLAND

The bushfire season for Australia officially ended on 31 January 2020. It was a long season this year, with fires burning earlier than normal due to the tinder-dry conditions across the country. Fires across southern NSW and NE Victoria continued to burn well into February, with rains arriving in early to mid-February bringing long sought-after relief.

Our farmers are already resilient and used to adapting to mother-nature and the cycles of weather, and have plans in place to work with those conditions. Bushfires, however, are more difficult to plan for and create a different set of risks for those on the land.

Farmers face a number of challenges in the immediate aftermath, with lack of ground cover being just one. As the fire sweeps through and consumes the dry matter, it leaves behind bare ground that is more susceptible to erosion and higher run-off rates; so when rain does fall, it is more likely to erode the ground rather than penetrate and sink in. Mulching the burnt ground can assist in retaining moisture and preventing erosion. Speaking with some of our fire affected members over the last few weeks, it became clear that finding organic mulch was a priority in their property recovery. To assist those who are in need of organic mulch, a list of certified operators who can provide mulch compliant to the Standard can be found at the end of this article.

An indirect effect for farmers can also be a lack of beneficial bugs, as their natural environment adjacent to the farms no longer exists. Where there was an abundance of insects and pollinators previously, farmers may not see those beneficial bugs in the same numbers due to their habitat changing or them leaving due to lack of current food sources. With the predatory insects in lower numbers, the natural balance changes, and operators need to consider how this impacts their crops.

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In the wake of the bushfires and the wide media coverage it received, the aftermath and effects will be felt for a long time to come. Many, many kilometres of fencing will need to be completed, stock feed needs to be brought in, sheds and buildings need to be rebuilt, and crops replanted. All of this will happen over time, and to various degrees for each operator. For some, the recovery is also hampered by the lack of immediate income whilst needing funding to move forward in the rebuilding phase. Many directly impacted operators will also experience longer term income losses as they focus on the rebuilding of their operations.

Australian Organic has been working to contact members and clients that have been directly and indirectly impacted, to understand how we can best assist those in need. In response to their most frequent requests, we have put together some resources and links for easy reference. Visit our website for more information: www.austorganic.com